Shortly after September 11, 2001, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was taxed with protecting the United States from any terrorist threat. Due to the immensity of this task, it is no surprise that the DHS has had to withstand some controversy and criticism. Just recently, for example, a New York Times article reported that problems could easily arise from the department's means of securing ports ("Loopholes Seen in U.S. Efforts to Secure Ports," May 25, 2005). Ports have often been cited as this country's most vulnerable point. To diminish this risk, the DHS decided to certify certain foreign ports and importers so that it could reduce inspections of their cargo. It could then use its resources to focus on unknown cargo. Unfortunately, however, the DHS seems to have failed to follow up on whether the "certified" ports and importers actually tightened security. Nor did it make sure that many containers were inspected overseas before being sent out to the US.

Most often, such shortcomings are a result of limited resources. In this case, there are simply not enough agents to examine the plethora of shipping containers that arrive in the US each day. Thankfully, numerous RF and microwave engineering companies are working to overcome such personnel weaknesses with technology. Many of these companies have their heritage in defense and the military. Their expertise in communications, intelligence, and surveillance is now being bestowed upon the homeland-security market.

In the example of ports, for instance, BAE Systems (Burlington, MA) recently received a US Coast Guard contract to build the SeeCoast Port and Coastal Scene Awareness Prototype and Demonstration System. As part of the DHS's Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) Automated Scene Understanding program, this program is valued at roughly $3.3 million. The goal of the SeeCoast system is to provide machine understanding of the coastal- and port-security scene. The system will integrate radar track data, video-image systems, positioning information from an Automatic Identification System (AIS), and other data inputs. In doing so, it will enhance vessel detection, evaluation, and tracking to aid tactical analysis and—if necessary—intercept decisions. During the first 12 months of the contract, SeeCoast will be installed in the DHS Hawkeye testbed at the Portsmouth, VA and Miami Coast Guard Sector command centers.

Another research and development haven is the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS). This multi-year, multi-billion-dollar program is tasked with modernizing and replacing the Coast Guard's older ships and aircraft. It also aims to improve both the command and control and logistics systems. Not surprisingly, Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman already have a part in IDS via their joint venture, Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS). Yet opportunities remain for other companies. Last month, ICGS announced that it is seeking suppliers that may have new technologies and product capabilities that support the US Coast Guard's IDS program. Specific areas of interest include command, control, communications, computing, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. ICGS also is looking for integrated logistics support, a systems engineering and integration team, and both aviation and surface solutions.

Such port- and ocean-related projects will only increase as the DHS makes more funds available. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security announced $140,857,128 in port-security grants. This funding was allocated to raise the level of protection against potential threats from small craft, underwater attacks, and vehicle-borne improvised explosives. It also vows to enhance explosive-detection capabilities aboard vehicle ferries and associated facilities. In April, the DHS awarded $17.1 million to the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey and the ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach and Seattle/Tacoma. These funds, which were awarded under the third phase of Operation Safe Commerce, will be used to strengthen the security of container cargo moving through these large load centers.

Of course, cargo is moved on trailers and trains as well. The DHS is therefore funding projects in these areas as well as the general transportation industry. Some of the solutions being implemented for land-transported cargo are satellite-based, RF-identification (RFID) tracking solutions. These wireless products, which rely on the Global Positioning System (GPS), have become especially popular in fleet management for trucking companies. For instance, TransCore (Hummelstown, PA) recently unveiled new trailer-tracking sensors.

The company's cargo sensor detects either the absence or presence of cargo. This sensor transmits infrared (IR) light that pulses down the length of the trailer. It scans approximately 2 ft. above the floor from the front of the trailer toward the rear door. From the information gained from these scans, an event trigger will notify fleet management when trailers are loaded and ready for pickup or unloaded and set for their next assignment. The company also has released a temperature sensor. That sensor monitors the temperature of a refrigerated truck or even the inner skin of a tanker. When temperature settings are exceeded, high or low temperature settings can be alarmed. Such alarms will be sent by satellite to the fleet operations center.

Clearly, both sensors enhance safety by communicating what they find to the operations center. For homeland-security purposes, their reliance on GPS is essential. TransCore previously acquired the GlobalWave satellite-tracking and GPS technology. This technology allows users to monitor, manage, track, and communicate with remote and mobile assets from a web interface. The GlobalWave network comprises six ground-control stations that provide service to five continents. The network supports more than 40,000 installed mobile terminals worldwide.

As the world was reminded in September of 2001, however, cargo is not the only source of risk. People can be equally dangerous. To this end, Smiths Group plc (London, UK) has been focusing on the detection of weapons and explosives. In February, the company acquired Farran Technology Ltd. (Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland). Farran is developing millimeter-wave technologies for the detection of hidden weapons and explosives. The company is applying its millimeter-wave technology to the electromagnetic radiation that is naturally emitted by all objects. As a result, an image is created that pinpoints if and where a person has metallic, ceramic, or other materials—including plastic explosives. Farran designs millimeter-wave sensors as well as high-performance microwave systems for broadband-wireless and imaging applications. Prototype field trials of its detection technology are expected to begin within the next year.

Last month, Smiths announced that it is adding to its detection division by acquiring ETI Technology, Inc. (Boston, MA). ETI specializes in the detection of harmful biological agents. The company has developed optical sensors that perform initial screening to identify and classify harmful agents.

Harmful agents do not have to be comprised of foreign substances, however. Without the proper security, our own resources could easily be turned against us. To monitor one aspect of this threat, Nethercomm Corp. (Escondido, CA) has come out with a technology that detects, classifies, and locates third-party tampering and damage to natural-gas pipelines. Dubbed Broadband-in-Gas (BiG), it uses ultrawideband (UWB) communications technology to deliver wireless broadband communications through natural-gas pipelines without using an RF carrier for its signal. Data is transmitted using time- and amplitude-modulated pulses that last less than one nanosecond.

Essentially, the company sends high-bandwidth wireless signals into natural-gas pipelines carrying large amounts of data. Changes are analyzed in the data passed through the natural-gas pipeline—especially changes caused by excavation, tampering, or damage. Such variations in the natural-gas-pipeline infrastructure can then be identified and acted upon in real time. The Broadband-in-Gas technology promises to provide the system-integrity monitoring of metallic and non-metallic natural-gas pipelines. It also can pinpoint the excavation of gas pipelines and the precise location of the excavation or disturbance.

Broadband communications are finding many uses in the homeland-security arena. Like the example of Nethercomm's BiG, they are well suited for surveillance and monitoring-type applications. As a result, broadband communications are increasingly being used in locations that are likely targets. The Statue of Liberty, for example, just welcomed the complete installation of a wireless network that supports 24/7 bomb-detection monitoring. Innalogic LLC, an MSGI Security Solutions (New York, NY) company, partnered with Michael Stapleton Associates (New York, NY) for this project. The result is a secure point-to-point broadband connection to transmit object images wirelessly from Liberty Island to MSA's bomb-detection monitoring stations.